Lev, a brand-new middle schooler, got slammed on the second day. More than an hour of homework – and that was just the general studies. Hebrew/Judaics was another half hour or so. We knew this was coming, and the school prepared the kids at the end of 5th grade for the onslaught, but it was still a shock to the system. The melt-down was spectacular. Lev is an emotional person in general, and the drama was worthy of a daytime emmy. On the second freaking day. Day three was much better (less homework). We’ll see how today goes. I feel really bad for him because he is a responsible kid who works his skinny little butt off.

I don’t really fault the school, I have to say. I know how much pressure they’re under from the state and from f-ed up parents who demand that their kids’ acceptance to pick-an-Ivy-League be practically guarunteed. I know many of the teachers personally through my work, and they truly care about the students and their well-being, in addition to being stellar educators. They are just between a rock and a hard place, and thusly so are the kids.

Shayna is walking around the house, in her underwear, pushing her doll stroller with the doll in it (upside down, of course), singing to herself.

“My brother-er-ers helped me get orange juice this morning, this morning, this morning. oh yea-ah. one of them likes thunder a-and one of them doesn’t. oh yea-ah oh yea-ah. we are going to the pool later, Baby Jordan [the doll], a-and Savta’s coming, she’s coming ’round the mountain to go to Purvis Park with u-u-us.”

Boys from the family room: “Shayna! We’re watching Wimbledon! Be quiet!”

So we were in Target the other day, and a large crowd of women in black burkas came into the store with their children. These were the very traditional burkas, covering the women from head to toe with just their eyes showing. I thought, “Great! An opportunity to share cultural and religious differences and promote tolerance with my kids!”